Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive orthopedic surgical technique that allows evaluation and treatment of structures inside the joint through small incisions using a camera.
Meniscus tears, ligament injuries, cartilage problems, impingement conditions, shoulder instability, and selected sports injuries in the knee, shoulder, ankle, and other joints may be evaluated within this field.
Short answer
Arthroscopy is a closed surgical technique that allows the evaluation and treatment of structures inside the joint, such as the meniscus, ligaments, cartilage, labrum, synovium, and impingement-related problems, using a camera.
Not every joint pain or sports injury requires arthroscopy. The treatment decision is based on the patient’s symptoms, physical examination findings, joint stability, range of motion, imaging results, activity level, and daily life expectations.
Which conditions are evaluated in arthroscopy?
Arthroscopy is used to evaluate joint structures and treat selected intra-articular problems with a minimally invasive approach. Meniscus tears, ligament injuries, cartilage damage, shoulder impingement, labral problems, and sports injuries may be evaluated within this field.
Knee Arthroscopy
Meniscus tears, cartilage problems, ligament injuries, loose bodies inside the joint, and selected intra-articular knee problems may be evaluated with knee arthroscopy.
Shoulder Arthroscopy
Shoulder impingement, rotator cuff problems, labral tears, recurrent shoulder dislocation, and selected intra-articular shoulder problems may be evaluated arthroscopically.
Meniscus Tears
Meniscus tears may cause knee pain, catching, locking, swelling, and limited motion. They are evaluated together with physical examination and imaging findings.
Ligament Injuries
Anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, and collateral ligament injuries are evaluated according to joint stability, activity level, sports expectations, and associated injuries.
Cartilage Problems
Cartilage damage may cause pain, swelling, catching sensation, and activity limitation. Treatment planning depends on the location, size, and depth of the lesion and the patient’s expectations.
Sports Injuries
Sports-related injuries around the knee, shoulder, and ankle are evaluated according to joint stability, injury mechanism, return-to-sport expectations, and associated damage.
Evaluation approach in arthroscopy
The decision for arthroscopy is not made according to an MRI report alone. The patient’s symptoms, examination findings, joint stability, range of motion, imaging results, activity level, and daily life expectations are evaluated together.
1. Clinical Examination and Symptom Assessment
Pain location, duration of symptoms, trauma history, swelling, catching, locking, giving-way sensation, limited motion, sports activity, and functional problems affecting daily life are evaluated in detail.
2. Joint Stability and Functional Analysis
Ligament stability, muscle strength, range of motion, signs of intra-articular impingement, mechanical symptoms, and the patient’s activity expectations are evaluated during the examination.
3. Imaging and Treatment Planning
X-rays, MRI, or when necessary CT scans may be used to evaluate the meniscus, ligaments, cartilage, labrum, bone structure, and other intra-articular problems. Imaging findings are interpreted together with the physical examination.
4. Personalized Treatment Decision
The treatment plan is based on the patient’s age, activity level, sports expectations, degree of joint damage, associated injuries, and daily life needs. Not every meniscus tear, ligament injury, or cartilage problem requires arthroscopy.
Treatment options in arthroscopy
The aim of arthroscopy evaluation is to determine whether the problem inside the joint truly requires surgical treatment. In meniscus, ligament, cartilage, labral, or impingement-related problems, treatment decisions are made by evaluating symptoms, examination findings, imaging results, and activity expectations together.
- Non-surgical follow-up and supportive treatments
- Knee arthroscopy
- Shoulder arthroscopy
- Ligament and sports injuries
- Cartilage and intra-articular problems
Not every joint pain, meniscus tear, or sports injury requires arthroscopy. In some patients, rest, activity modification, exercise, physical therapy, muscle strengthening, pain control, and follow-up may be sufficient. When non-surgical treatment is planned, the patient’s age, activity level, duration of symptoms, presence of mechanical catching or locking, and the overall condition of the joint are evaluated together.
Knee arthroscopy may be considered for meniscus tears, loose bodies inside the joint, selected cartilage problems, synovial problems, and selected ligament injuries.
However, seeing a meniscus tear on MRI is not enough by itself to decide on surgery. Pain, catching or locking sensation, swelling, examination findings, cartilage condition, and daily functional limitation should be evaluated together.
Shoulder arthroscopy may be considered for shoulder impingement, rotator cuff problems, labral tears, recurrent shoulder dislocation, and selected intra-articular shoulder problems.
When planning treatment, pain location, shoulder range of motion, muscle strength, trauma history, night pain, instability sensation, and imaging findings are evaluated together.
Anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, collateral ligament injuries, and sports-related joint problems are evaluated according to joint stability, return-to-sport expectations, age, activity level, and associated meniscus or cartilage damage.
Some ligament injuries may be followed without surgery, while reconstruction or arthroscopic surgical options may be considered in selected patients.
Cartilage damage, loose bodies inside the joint, synovial problems, catching sensation, and recurrent swelling may require arthroscopic evaluation.
In cartilage problems, the treatment decision is based on the location, size, and depth of the lesion, the patient’s age, limb alignment, associated ligament or meniscus problems, and activity expectations.
When is arthroscopy considered?
Arthroscopy is not the first treatment option for every joint pain or sports injury. The patient’s symptoms, examination findings, joint stability, range of motion, imaging results, and daily life expectations should be evaluated first.
Seeing a meniscus tear, ligament injury, cartilage damage, or intra-articular shoulder problem on MRI is not enough by itself to decide on surgery. The effect of pain on daily life, the presence of mechanical symptoms such as catching or locking, giving-way sensation, sports or work expectations, and response to previous treatments should be considered.
The aim of arthroscopic surgery is not only to treat an imaging finding, but also to reduce pain, improve joint function, address mechanical problems, support joint stability, and help the patient return to daily life or sports activities more safely.
Arthroscopy may be considered in the following situations:
- Catching or locking sensation in the knee
- Recurrent joint swelling
- Suspected meniscus tear affecting daily life
- Loose body or mechanical problem inside the joint
- Giving-way sensation during sports or daily activities
- Ligament injuries that affect joint stability, such as ACL tears
- Recurrent shoulder dislocation or instability
- Selected shoulder problems related to the rotator cuff or labrum
- Cartilage damage or intra-articular surface problems
- Persistent functional limitation despite non-surgical treatment
Inability to bear weight after trauma, obvious deformity of the knee or shoulder, sudden severe swelling, joint locking, recurrent dislocation, joint swelling with fever or redness, or progressive loss of motion requires prompt medical evaluation.
Common misconceptions
There are several common misconceptions about arthroscopy. Treatment decisions should not be based on an MRI report alone, but on the patient’s symptoms, examination findings, joint stability, mechanical symptoms, activity level, and daily life expectations evaluated together.
No. A meniscus tear seen on MRI is not enough by itself to decide on arthroscopy. Pain, catching or locking sensation, swelling, examination findings, age, activity level, and daily functional limitation should be evaluated together.
You can schedule an evaluation for joint pain and sports injuries
For knee, shoulder, or ankle pain; suspected meniscus tear; ligament injury; catching, locking, giving-way sensation, recurrent swelling, or sports-related injury, a face-to-face orthopedic evaluation is needed to plan the most appropriate treatment.
This page was prepared based on Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Öner’s clinical evaluation approach in orthopedics and traumatology and has been medically reviewed.
Last updated: August 26, 2026
